Dropshipping

[accessoryzoo2011]

Are there any Ebay sellers out there who currently dropship?  I have someone asking me if I'll dropship for them, they want to put a pic of my items (the pics I've taken) on their website and when their customer buy's thru their website they'll buy off me and I post goods to their customer - does this work/is it common or successful for any of you??

How can this person give me feedback on an item they haven't seen (as I'm sending it directly to their customer??)

Not too sure how to proceed. I've never even considered doing this and am not sure if it's something to consider, any input regarding this would be very much appreciated.  Experienced at Ebay but not dropshipping....Thanks Everyone!:-)

[lyndal1838]

I can't see that it is a problem for you, but it would be for your customer if you did not deliver as agreed.

I must admit I have never seen an enquiry about dropshipping from the point of view of the supplier...it is always the "middleman" wanting advice, and he is usually advised not to do it.:^O

Are you sure he wants to buy from you on ebay and not privately?  I have never heard of two sellers advertising the same goods.

[kopenhagen5]

Do a little research on who is behind the other business and whether they meet your standards.

In effect, to you it is simply a repeat customer that has a different delivery address every purchase.

However, I would stipulate that something is included in each item to contact xxxxxxxxxxxxx if there are any queries. Being your customers full details. You don't want to be dealing with your customers buyers.

Good luck. 🙂

[phorum_junkie*]

The only way that could work would be if they bought from you, paid with Paypal and you posted only to the address on the Paypal transaction page. That would mnean they would have to change the delivery address every time they purchased from you.

How are they going to make any money doing that especially as most of your items are under twenty five bucks? They would have to advertise the items at a much higher price than you are charging, if they can be sold for more why give somebody else

the extra profit?

[bookvasity]

The way I see it is that you will have to either increase the price of your goods or you would have to be willing to take a smaller amount of profit, after paying the dropshipper his/her percentage for selling your products on their site. You would need to have enough product to be able to supply your customer (the dropshipper) as well as your own customers that you are selling direct to.

Why not try it with one product that you have a lot of and want to sell quickly. Tell your dropshipper how much you want for the product - then it's up to them how much they charge their costomers - they then keep the profit they make on the sale after they have payed you. Once you are paid by the dropshipper the agreed amount you want, then you are able to send the item/product on to the dropshipper's customer.

Feedback could work that: you receive it from your dropshipper (who is your customer) - after they have received it from their customer - indicating to them that you have delivered it.

In this situation you are considered the wholesaler and the person who wants to sell your products is putting themselves in as the dropshipper - They are selling your products and you are posting them - once you are paid by the dropshipper.

Problem can be that if they (dropshipper) were to sell something that you have run out of - and therefore can not post it out quickly -  then the dropshipper runs the risk of receiving negative feedback from his customer who paid but has not received his purchase from you - also something to consider - what if the dropshipper doesn't pay you - do you send the purchase to his customer if you haven't been paid? Not likely, but it could become confusing as to who has the money unless you work something out beforehand with your customer (the dropshipper) the problem happens.

Hope this helps.

[tonalidesigns]

We have had a couple of requests like this. One we went ahead with and one didn't (mainly because I was too busy to follow it up)

Sounds like the other person intends to sell on their website, which may possibly have a specialist or dedicated following. They may well get a premium price. Provided you do it right this could be a good opportunity.

Some things to consider

1. Payment by bank deposit only. You don't want a charge back which would be very hard to defend. You might reconsider this once some trust is established. The transaction between you and your customer should be direct not through ebay.

2. Pricing - any discounts should be dependent on volume, not on the promise of sales

3. Be very clear on dispatch issues. Timing, packing etc. Any documentation, return addresses etc should be from the seller. Any complaints etc initially go to them. You should have little or no direct contact with the end buyer.

4. To avoid problems send by trackable postage, and let your customer know...they can then pass on to the end buyer.

It can work, just tread carefully.

[patchoo78]

Payment by bank deposit only. You don't want a charge back which would be very hard to defend. You might reconsider this once some trust is established. The transaction between you and your customer should be direct not through ebay.

Sorry, but if I saw a listing which said Bank deposit only I would be buying somewhere else.. Also, you have to offer one safe payment method meaning PayPal, Paymate or Merchant credit card.. If you offer PayPal and someone decides to pay that way then you can't make them pay with Bank Deposit..

Even when I come across listings that say Bank Deposit preferred, I either find another seller or pay with PayPal anyway

You can't make someone pay with Bank deposit to avoid something which is unlikely to happen anyway.

ALL sales are through eBay even if using bank deposit, you just have to mark payment sent manually.

[patchoo78]

The transaction between you and your customer should be direct not through ebay.

I hope you're not suggesting that the OP does the transaction outside of eBay, as that's a policy violation

[lyndal1838]

Patch, leave this one to the experts....this is not an ordinary ebay transaction and should not be treated as such.

The more I read about this the less likely I would be to have anything to do with it.  There is too much potential for things to go wrong.

[patchoo78]

It is certainly a logistics nightmare lyndal...